Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-12-04
CHAPTER XIV.

ChAPIEh AAlN.
Henry and Agnes were left alone in thu
room of the Caryatides.
The person who had written q descrip
ton of the palace-probably a poor author
or artist-had correctly painted ont the
defects of the mantelpiece. Bad taste,
exhibiting itself on the most costly ,and
splendid scale, vas visible in every part o.
the work. 1t was, nevertheless, greatly
admired by ignorant travellers Of ali
classes; partly on account Of its imposing
size, and partly on account Of the number
of ~variously colored marbles which the
sculptor had contrived to introduce into
his design. Photographs Of the mantel'
piece were exhibited in the public rooms,
and found a ready sale among English and
American visitors to the hotel.
Henry led Agnes to the figure on the
left, as the stood facing the empty fire.
place. shall / try the experiment" he
asked "cr will your" She abruptly drew
her arm away from him, and turned back
TO the door.
II can't even look at it." The said
THAT merciless marble face frightens
me"
Henry put his hand on the forehead OF
the figure.
''What is there to alarm you, my dear
in this conventionally classical face?' he
asked, jestingiy.
Before he could press the head inward,
Agnes hurriedly opened the door.
wait till l am out Of the ROOM" she
cried. ''Tho bare idea of what You may
finn there norrifies me! She looked back
into the room rs she crossed the threshold,
~ won't leave you altogether" che said;
II will wait outside"
She closed the door. Lett by himself,
Henry lifted his hand once more TO the
marble forehead OF the figure.
For the second time he was checked on
the point of setting the machinery of the
hiding place in motion. On this occasion
the interruption came from an outbreak Of
friendly voices in the corridor A woman's
voice exclaimed: dearest Agnes, how
glad | am to see you again!" A mans
voice followed, offering to introduce some
friend 10 miss lockwood" A third
voice (which Henry recognized as the voice
of the manager Of the botel) be-
came audible next, directing the
housekeeper to show the ladies and gentle
men the vacant apartments at the other
end Of the corridor. "If more accommoda-
ton is wanted" the manager went on, 81
have Il charming room to let here" He
opened the door AZ he spoke, and found
himself face to face with Henry Westwick.
This il indeed an agreeable surprise,
sir" said the manager, c%heerfully. You
are admiripg our famous chimney piece, |
see. May / ask, Mr.. Westwick, how you
find yourself in the hotel this time. Have
the supernatural influences affected your
appetite again
THE supernatural Influences have spared
NE this time" Henry answered. per
haps you may yet find that they have az
ferted some other members of the family"
He spoke ~gravely, resenting the familiar
tone in which the manager had referred TO
his previous visit to the hotel. Have you
Just returned ?" he asked, by way of chang
ing the topic.
'Just this minute, sir. had the honor
Of travelling in the same train with friends
Of yours, who have arrived Mt the hotel
Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur Barville aud their
travelling companions. Miss Lockwood is
with them, looking Mt the rooms. They
will be here before long, if they find it con
~venient to have an extra room at their dis
posal."
This announcement decided Henry on
exploring the hiding place before the inter
ruption occurred. Ii had crossed his mind
when Agnes left him that he ought, per-
haps, to have a witness in the not very
probable event of some alarming discovery
taking place. The too familiar manager,
suspecting nothing, was there at his dis
posal. He turned again 10 the Caryan
figure, maliciously resolving to make the
manager his witness.
81 am delighted to hear that our friends
have arrived at last, he said. Before /
shake hands with them let me ask yOu q
question about this queer work Of art here
i saw photographs Of it down stairs. Are
they for sale?"
Certainly, Mr.. Westwick."
"Do you think the chimney piece is as
solid as it looks?" Henry proceeded.
'When you came in / was Just wondering
whether this figure here had not accident
ally got loosened from the wall behind it,"
He laid his hand on the marble forehead
for the third time. ITO my eye 1t looks a
little out Of perpendicular. i almost fancy
| could jog the head just now when /
touched it," He pressed tho head inward
as he said those words.
A sound Of Earring iron was instantly au.
dible behind the wall. The solid heath.
stone in front Of the fireplace turned slowly
at the feet Of the two men, and disclosed
a dark cavity below. At the same moment
the strange and sickening combination OF
odors, hitherto associated with the vaults
Of the old palace and with the bed cham
her beneath, now fioated up from the open
recess, and filled the room.
The manager started back. GOOD God
Mr.. Westwickr' he exclaimed, what
does this mean?"
Remembering, not only what his brother
Francis had felt in the room beneath, but
what the experience OF Agnes had been on
the previous night, Henry was determined
to be on his guard. 81 am az much SUI.
prised as you are" wa his only reply.
"Wait for me one moment, sir" said the
manager. 81 must stop the ladies and
gentlemen outside from coming in"
He hurried away-aot forgetting TO close
the door after him. Henry opened the win.
dow and waited there, breathing the pure
air. Vague apprehensions Of the next dis.
covery 10 come filed his mind for the first
time. He was doubly resolved, now, not 70
stir a step in the investigation without a
witness.
The manager returned with q wax taper
in his hand, which he lighted As soon az he
entered the room.
"We need fear no interruption now" be
said. BE 30 kind, Mr.. Westwick, n 70
hold the light II is my business to find
out what this extraordinary discovery
means"
Henry held the taper, Looking into the
cavity, by the dim and fickeripg. light,
they both detected q dark object at The
bottom of it. 81 think / can reach the
thing" the manager remarked, "if I lie
down and put my hand into the hole"
He knelt on the foor-and hesitated.
might I ask you, sir, TO give me nv
gloves?" he said. 'They are in NV hat.
" III. III.